TOKYO, Japan From Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to Overseas Filipino Investors (OFI).
This is the vision of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for OFWs as she urged the Filipino community in this East Asian nation Friday to invest in real state, the stock market, government bonds and treasury bills, and other small and medium enterprises back home to help the government sustain the countrys economic growth
In her speech before hundreds of Filipino migrant workers at the Imperial Hotel here, the President noted that through their remittances, the Philippine economy has attained a stable growth.
“Kailangang sundan natin ang sakit ng pagtaas ng buwis sa pakinabang na nanggagaling sa makabuluhang investment ng tao at sa mga proyekto ng sa ganon ay masisigurado natin na ang kaunlaran ay hindi mababaliktad,” she explained.
The President said that henceforth, all Filipinos working abroad should not be called Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW), but instead, Overseas Filipino Investors (OFI).
“Kayong mga OFW ay nagsimula nang mag-invest ng inyong kita sa ating bansa kaysa gamitin lamang ang inyong remittances para suportahan ang inyong mga pamilya. Dapat ang itawag sa inyo ay hindi na OFWs kundi OFI,” the President said.
The President noted that OFW remittances continued to increase through the years, directly benefiting human resource capital by means of education, health care, and other basic services.
She said that OFWs will directly benefit from the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) since the accord would open the flood gates for more job opportunities in the second largest economy of the world.
For the Philippines, “lalong bubukas ang pintuan ng Hapon sa mga produkto at serbisyo ng Pilipinas,” she said, adding that livestock and agricultural products from the Philippines will enter the Japanese market duty-free. (OPS) (davaotoday.com)
OFWS & Migration, Pinoy Life Abroad
